Car-coupling



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. S. LENNON.-

GAR COUPLING.

Patented May 24, 1887 jar/3x307",

2 t e B h s h. t 6 6 h S 3 N 0 N N E L S W (No Model.)

GAR COUPLING.

Patented May 24, 1887.

min eases $126 3 Sheefis-Sheet 3. W. S. LENNON. GAR COUPLING.

(No Model.)

Patented May 24, 1887.

i wdfi passsl' 4o 7 feeted from the sides and top by means of a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' \VATSON S. LENNON, OF HARDINSBURG, KENTUCKY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,474, dated May 24, 1887.

Application filed March 7, 1887. Serial No. 230,039.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WA'rsoN S. LENNON, of Hardinsburg, in the county of Breckinridge, State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Gar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

This improved coupling is one of the class which couple automatically when two cars come together, and in which the cars can be uncoupled from the sides and top. The two ends of each car are provided with a portion of the coupling device, the mechanism ateach end being different, but adapted to co-operate with mechanism such as is at the opposite end on an adjacent car. The mechanism at one end consists in a draw-bar recessed at both sides and a pivoted coupling-plate carrying two coupling-pins, one for each recess. When the cars are to be coupled, the lower ends of the couplingpins are held elevated by resting upon a spring-actuated bufling-slide. Theco-operating coupling device on the adjacent car con v sists of 'two curved links pivoted on opposite sides of and within the draw-head, so as to mally at an angle to the axis of the draw-bar) are connected to a spring-actuated buflingslide. \Vhen the two ends of the cars come together, the buffingslides come in contact with the draw-heads of the opposite car and are pressed inward. This movement of one slide releases the coupling'pins, which thereupon fallinto the recesses of the draw-head, whereas the movement of the opposite slide swings the slotted pivoted links into the recesses of the opposite draw-head,so that when the couplingpins descend they enter the slots in said links, thus coupling the ears. The uncoupling is efsystemof cords and pulleys which lift the coupling-plate, and with it the pins. When the pins are released from the slotted links, the latter are thrown open by the spring-actuated slide, to which they are attached, thus permitting the cars to separate without touching them. When the coupling-pins are lifted, the spring-actuated slide co-operating therewith moves forward beneath the pins, holding them up in position for the next coupling.

No model.)

This improved coupling is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end view ofa box freight-ear provided with the coupling-pin portion of the improved coupling. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the draw-head thereof. Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section of both portions of the coupling, and Fig. 4 is a View showing the coupling-pin portion in plan and the link portion in horizontal section.

The draw-heads A of both portions are similar, and are arranged with cushioningsprings a, in a well-known manner, the draw-heads having a limited sliding movement between suitable guides, (indicated at b.) The drawhead of the coupling-pin portion is cutaway to form recesses 13 B on both sides, the draw-head presenting on its front face a solid vertical portion or post,.c, and horizontal pieces or bars d d. The recesses 13 B communicate with each other in the rear of the central face-post, 0.

Pivoted to the draw-head,within a recess on the upper part thereof, is the coupling-plate O, which carries on its forward edge and on its bottom side the two coupling-pins D D. These coupling-pins move in and through apertures e cin the top of the draw-head,communieating with the recesses B B. p

The spring-actuated bufiingslide, which holds the coupling-pins elevated when the cars are to be coupled,isconstructed as follows: It consists of two sliding bars, E E, located beneath the draw-head, and held normally forward by springs F F, with their buffer-heads GGprojectingbeyondthedraw-head. Thebars E E extend through aperturesin the bottom horizontal face-bar, d, of the draw-head,and the latter is provided with recesses f f,into which the buffer-heads G G enter when encountered by the opposite draw-head. At their rear ends the bars E E are secured to vertical rods H H, which extend through and slide in elon' gated slots 9 g in the draw-head. The upper ends of these rods are secured to a crossplate, I, which slides in a recess, h, in the upper side of the drawhead. This cross-plate has two horizontal bars, J J, which extend forward in longitudinal recesses in the draw-head to the apertures c e,through which the coupling-pins pass. Vh'en the coupling-pins are raised clear of the apertures, the bars J J are moved forward across the same by the springs F F,thus holding the coupling-pins raised.

The draw-head A of the adjacent car has an interior recess, K, in which slides a block, L. This sliding block is carried by a guide-rod, M, which carries 011 its front end a buffer-head, N, which projects beyond the draw-head,and which fits Within a recess, 2', in the draw-head when encountered by the vertical post of the opposite draw head. The rear end of the guide-rod M is surrounded by a coiled spring, I, which holdsthe slide L normally forward.

Pivoted within the draw-head so as to swing horizontally are the curved coupling-links O 0, having curved elongated slots m min their outer ends. The inner ends of the links are connected preferably by coiled springs s s to the slide L. The forward end of the slide L is curved, so that when the slide is pressed normally forward by the spring P it comes in contact with the links and throws thesame out, as shown in Fig. 4. This position of'the links is their normal one when thecars are to be coupled.

\N'hen, now, the opposite draw-heads come together, the bnlfer'heads G G N of the two slides are encountered by the draw-heads, thus moving in both slides. The inward movement of slide L swings the outer slotted ends of the links 0 O'into the recesses 13 B of the opposite draw-head. At the same time the inward movement of the buffenheads G G releases bars J J from the coupling-pins D D, permitting them to descend into the slots m m, and thus couple the ears.

To lift the coupling-plate O and so uncouple the cars, the plate is connected by a cord, rope, or chain, Q, to a ring, R, to which three other cords, ropes, or chains, S S T, are connected. The ropes S S pass upward over sheaves U U, and thence down through staples V V at the sides of the ear. The third rope, T, passes directly through a staple, V, atthe top of the car. Each rope has at its outer enda manipulating ring or loop, W.

A cord or chain, X, attached at opposite ends to the. drawhead and coupling-plate, limits the movement of the latter.

The linksO O are held in position by coiled springs t t, interposed between them and the draw-head.

I claim as my invention 1. In a car-coupling, a draw-head having side recesses therein and two coupling-pins, one for each recess, in combination with the adjacent drawhead having two links pivoted on opposite sides thereto, so as to swing in a horizontal plane, said links having slots in their outer ends, substantially as set forth.

2. In a carcou'pling,.a draw-head having side recesses therein, a coupling-plate pivoted thereto, and two coupling-pins attached tosaid plate, in combination with the adjacent draw-head having two links pivoted on opposite sides thereto, so as to swing in a horizontal plane, said links having slots in their outer ends, substantially as set forth.

3. In a car-coupling, a draw-head having side recesses therein, a coupling-plate pivoted thereto, two coupling-pins attached to said plate, and a spring-actuated buffing-slide operated by encountering the draw-head of the adjacent car, said slide holding said couplingpins in an elevated position, in combination with the draw-head of the adjacent car having two links pivoted thereto, said links having slots in their outer ends, and a springactuated buffing-slide, to which said links are connected, said slide being operated to close the links by encountering the-draw-head on the adjacent car, substantially as set forth.

4. Thecoupling-plateandthelimiting-chain X, connected at opposite ends to said plate and the draw-head, in combination with ring R, ropes Q, S S, and T, sheaves U U, and sta ples V V, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WATSON S. LENNON.

Witnesses:

WM. H. BELL, J r., J o H. SKILLMAN. 

